November, 2024 Caregiver Month

Monday, December 1, 2025

Support for Dementia Caregivers: Understand how to measure your burden and tips for improved quality of life. 

Caregiver: “Caregivers are guardians, helpers, comforters, healers, and heroes. We understand the internal reasons why it might feel hard to call yourself a caregiver, caregivers are the backbone of society. – yes, that means you! 

We want to recognize and celebrate you – and the love and sacrifice you provide in this the vital role 

Caring for the Caregiver

As a caregiver who is pouring into others daily; it’s important that you foster your own well-being. How do you fill your tank? We created the Botes Quality of Life Tool especially for you. It helps you understand the 5 constructs pertaining to quality of life. This tool will enable you to identify your needs. You will learn practical ways to better attend to yourself. Take the self-assessment: 

Botes Quality of Life Tool

Once you complete the BQOL-T pay special attention to your areas of need. See our recommendations below to assist you: 

Recommendations for the Caregiver 

Physical Construct refers to your overall physical wellness 

  • Engage in physical exercise with your loved one. 
  • Make sure you get your health and wellness checks done – consider and in-home provider for both you and your person living with dementia. 
  • Get adequate sleep ( 7-9 hours a night) Try to stick to a consistent sleep schedule and refrain from screen time 2 hours before bed. Establish a bedtime routine, for example: Use soothing sounds, warm bath, etc. as is conducive to sleep. 
  • Hydrate well – ½ of your body weight in ounces daily to increase energy and mental acuity. 
  • Attend to your health and get physical exercise to help maintain strength. 
  • Use adaptive equipment to help care for your person or elicit physical help – be specific when requesting assistance from family, friends and paid services. 

Safety Construct refers to how confident you are in your loved ones safety and your own when caring for them: 

  • Ask yourself these questions: (Who/When/Why/How) 
  • ·  Who can I depend on? How can I ask for help or how can they help me? When do I need help? Why do I need help or with what? 
  • Learn how to use technology ensure safety for both you and your loved one. 
  • Keep learning, for example: approaches to difficult behaviors. We offer Care Partner support groups every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:30pm. 
  •  Gain health care surrogacy and POA status to help you make decisions. 
  •  Explore the possibility of adult daycare. 
  • Botes Memory Method offers private consultations at: BotesMemoryMethod.com 

Social Construct refers to having a healthy social network and opportunities to have meaningful socialization: 

  •  Maintain a structured routine. 
  •  Be intentional about maintaining relationships/celebrations/social connections. 
  •  Schedule activities that include your person – plan on your calendar. 
  •  Prioritize creating joy and connection daily on your calendar. 
  • s. 
  • Have your person accompany you to meet a friend at a venue or in your home for dinner or coffee. 

Psychological Construct refers to emotional wellness vs. feeling overwhelmed and / or experiencing a lack of joy. 

  •  Use methods to gain self-awareness, such as journaling. This will assist you in awareness of your emotional status and help you identify red flags such as feeling overwhelmed, depressed, lacking joy, or becoming overly tearful. 
  •  Make stress management techniques a priority (breathing techniques or exercise) 
  • Model and complete deep breathing exercises together – in through the nose 4 seconds, blow slowly through the mouth 8 second 
  • Schedule family meetings to discuss different challenges and create solutions that include everyone, for example: if someone cannot help physically, they may be able to contribute money or a certain block of time each month or year to assist. 
  •  Leverage the support of others – reach out. 
  •  Your journey is just as valuable as the journey of your person 

Self-Expression Construct refers to our ability to express ourselves through art/sport/religion/politics or other means that defines who we are 

  •  Have realistic expectations of yourself. 
  • Explore hobbies and leisure activities that you once enjoyed and intentionally set up plans and care assistance for you to enjoy them. 
  •  Celebrate small wins. 
  •  Identify one or two things a day that you can do to for yourself in manageable blocks, for example: 
  • 20 min walk in the neighborhood while my neighbor keeps an eye on my loved one. 
  • 30 min of garden work while your loved one sits outside with you watching you. 
  • Have hot chocolate with my loved one, while listening to music in the evening getting ready for bed. 

Care for yourself in order that you may continue to care for them. 

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